Well, it’s just… This is all so sudden…

O. Em. Gee. I just HAVE to call my frenemy to rub this in her face. The COW!

Fellow creatives, I’ve been at this for a while.

😉

I write this blog, as you know, which I LOVE and wouldn’t trade for the world, and which has been up and running for about a year now. I pour my very heart and soul into the endeavor. I rake my brain throughout the week, eventually settle on the one issue that’s embracing my heart most tightly, and then well… I run with it.

~~ InSaNiTy EnSuEs ~~

This action is not endorsed by this Blog, nor any of its affiliates. Unless you trip. And film it. And send me the link. 😉

I’m never quite sure what’s going to happen next, and I love that.

Plus, let me tell you — you learn a lot as you write. Particularly writing as I do, being I’m so drawn to hotly debated ideas and topics which necessitate heavy reasearch (You wouldn’t believe the type of research I do at times… too much! Far too much…). But, in the end, it’s not only that I’ve learned about the world as I’ve written.

I’ve learned a lot about myself.

I don't get it. Hey baby, who's that other baby? Hey other Baby, what are you doing in there?

I’ve learned that I enjoy beauty and creativity in all it’s forms.

From Artists to Zombies, from the Brain to the Soul — I’ve learned that I’m fascinated by what makes people tick.

Especially those who create.

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But…… Really…, what’s a guy got to show for it?

What, as some mighthave asked me (repeatedly and often), is the point?

How do you win?

What’s success?

Why? ~~ How? ~~ Who? ~~ What?

WHEN!?!?

When, you say?

Today — that’s when!

YAY, I win the internet! You can all go home now. Wait -- NO -- Finish the post. FINISH THE POST!!! (Crap, they've already gone...)

Life sure is funny…

Why, only yesterday I was going over my finances — all twenty-eight cents of them — and thought it would be a swell idea to make this weeks post a sequel to my “Guide to being poor” series. Being that I, myself, am… Let’s just call it, Monetarily Challenged at the moment. BUT, thanks to this blog, as I awoke this morning and checked my e-mail from bed, directly after considering cold canned-beans on toast for breakfast once more (SO GOOD!), I learned that I’m not poor. I’d won something.

This morning, deserved of praise or not, I was praised. Peter, “PL Holden”, of the always fun and interesting, Wish I Were There 24/7…, decided to pass his 7 & 7 award on to me — solidifying finally, beyond any shadow of doubt, that this Blog is officially, once and for all, more trustworthy and well versed than the entirety of the Prestigious Mensa organization.

The Rules;

2- Pass the award on to 7 of your fellow bloggers and let them know you did so.

3- Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to his or her blog.

So now, without further ado, I’d like to give you my picks 😉

So not funny, dude...

Most Beautiful

Writing the end of your story – To me, who’s (lets face it) the only person I can really ask, written stories of redemption are beauty incarnate — and that’s what this was. I don’t often write about my own life, as so many others do, but here I did. It was raw, and I was low. I mean really low. Practically everything that could go awry, HAD gone awry with my life, and I’d felt helpless, like a ringside coach, who really needed the fight to go all 12 rounds, standing agog at the doings within the ring and ready to toss in the towel. But I’d made it out. I’d persevered. And, least I think, I’d portrayed the story rather well. Elements of pride, creativity, goals, failures, ambition and family had somehow all intertwined to magically coalesce to my salvation. Somehow… By the end, I’d been cheering for myself, and as someone who rarely enjoys his own work this was something. It was Beautiful.

Most Helpful

Happiness – What is Happiness? How do we get there? Can we live there forever? (Is this real life?) These are the questions I’d tackled in this post which expunged the common held belief that when you don’t feel perfect, something’s wrong. NO! That’s normal. It’s normal to feel inadequate from time to time. It’s your body’s way of telling you that you need a change — something needs to be altered to regain your worth — and you need to derive this worth from within, or it’s false. Listen to the voice and don’t medicate it away, for if you heed it you’ll be happier for the effort alone.

Most Popular

My Top Ten Favorite Conspiracy Theories, #4 – The Kennedy assassination. This would be one of those examples of where I’d put in much more work than the requisites of casual blogging demand. But the Blog was fresh, I’d wanted a challenge, and this was the result — a new conspiracy theory EVERY DAY for ten days straight. Let me tell you, my Girlfriend loooooved me when I was writing these. Maybe that’s why she left to go back to Michigan and I’m single again. Huh, food for thought 🙂 .

Most Controversial

What are we? – Ahhh the crazy consumerist society we live in. Branding, branding, branding — That’s the game. From even before your actually born people all around you are thinking about how you’ll be perceived by the title you’ll be given. Ubiquitous throughout society, sure. But a good idea? This post strives to break the boundaries of limiting thought processes, with hopes to endow the people who’d read it with the ability to see things for what they are — not buzz-worthy catchphrases bearing the fruit of a better life for the trade of your very soul — but rather, just words. Silly words. Controversial, maybe; as I hold the world accountable. Helpful knowledge to have though, I think so.

Most Surprisingly Successful

TGR Part 4 “Thinking about Thinking” – At the onset of my “Great Reset” project, I’d known that I was tapering away from general appeal. However, as mentioned earlier, I always write what’s nearest to my heart. What a pleasant surprise then, to learn that one in the series had done well. Like very well. Like crazy well. Crazy like Charlie Sheen saying something not only intelligible, but wise, crazy. Like, NUTS!

Most Underrated

And so he ran, I, II and III – These three little guys came from the future, and didn’t get much attention in the present. I was shocked — and a little hurt. Here I’d wanted to try my hand at the short story format, and figured that I had so much thought invested into my book already that a short surrounding the origin of a character you otherwise wouldn’t have heard could be cool. Quantum even. Nope. Like nothing had ever happened. Go figure.

Most Prideworthy

My first post, Chicken Soup for the Deranged and Enlightened mind – This was the beginning of it all. I had written a book, and had no concept of “a platform”, so I began. And it quickly took on a life of its own. Before long — like half way through the first entry — the blog had the pitter-patter of a tangible heartbeat, and all at once it was a marketing tool no more. It was alive. And I couldn’t have been more proud. For all who didn’t know, the Blog was launched off one of my favorite quotes, “The only measurable difference between genius and insanity is in their degree of success.”; and so, hence, the Blog’s name was born, “Chicken Soup for the deranged and enlightened mind”, representing a place that either could call home.

🙂

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Thank you Peter. This was an unexpected surprise, which came at a time when I’d really needed it. I am honored.

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Now, finally, 7 other bloggers who deserve this prestigious award!

For many of you I’m sure this will come as a surprise. I follow many blogs, and don’t always leave comments, but I do love you all — collectively you’re hugely influential to me and it’s nice to be able to prove it — anddddd…. here’s the proof.

#1- Al @ SingleMaltMonkey — Ever caught one of those Dos Equis commercials? The ones with, “The most interesting man in the world”? Classic right? Well, THIS IS THE GUY!!! I never know what I’m in for when I drop on by this eclectic and lively place, actually today I was treated to a deeply soulful Cuban beat, but I always leave happy, having learned something about some place I’d never been, or having gleaned an insight about something I’d have never otherwise even had on my radar. What can i say, the guy’s unique, and he’s about as creative as they get. I once saw a hand-made guitar he’d made. Let me repeat this — the dude MAKES GUITARS! Like by hand! Who does that? Awesome people, that’s who. So — If you’re looking for something that’s always cool, fun, funny, and intriguing — this is where to go!

#2- Jackie @ The Jackie Blog — Jackie caught my attention when she’d once been Freshly pressed on WordPress’s homepage some time ago. I dropped in to read the story and leave a comment, and learned that she was a 365 challenge participant! Um — hello fellow nutcase. Not only that, but she had some sucker lollipop Tuesday dealieo’ going on where she’d try something previously, “new and scary” to her, EVERY TUESDAY! If I hadn’t gotten hopelessly hooked on the creative idea alone, I would’ve become hooked on the girls writing. A wry wit, a healthy dash of sarcasm and a daily dose of Jackie will always cure what ails you. Check her out! (Note: her year challenge is over. Hope for once a week now. Congrats girl.)

#3- Scott @ People-triggers — Insight into the human mind lever looked so good or read so well. Sure we’d like more from this sparing poster, but what we get is amazingly dense brain fodder that you can feast on for weeks. When I see this Poster has come up with something new to share I, A) Get nerd chills, Then, B) fumble over the keyboard because I cant get there quick enough. Want something interesting, other than what you find here 😉 — get over there!

#4- Miss Kitty in NYC @ Ive Never Seen My Roommate — This is no joke. This girl has been living in a place for over two months and, at least as I’m writing this, she’s never met her roommate — never even seen her. This real life murder mystery (sans the murder) has really kept me on the edge of my chair, and, despite my avid assurances that we could grab a look at madam X with a deer trap or a camera rigged with a bit of trip-line floss, Miss kitty simply will not. She’s a trooper. She’ll be riding this out as far as it goes and I’ll be eating my popcorn as I go along for the ride. My bet’s on Jimmy Hoffa. He just wears the heels for the sound effect.

#5- Mikalee @ Me 2.0 — Sure she’s popular, for good reason too — this is funny ‘ish. If you like comical slices of life and occasional sailor like cussing, (and let’s be honest here, who the hell doesn’t?) than this place will feel about as good as warm apple pie. Not traditional pie though, too philistine that. More-like the Apple pie from the Movie, “American Pie” after Jason Biggs had his way with it. Yea, that’s what I’m talking about. Go Jim. Now than, where’s my whipped cream?

#6- Danny @ Times and Reason with Danny Dragone — This Man sees the world with two wide open eyes, and one wide open heart. He doesn’t shy away from the troubles of society, and he rarely blogs about the easy things in life — Danny hits hard with the old 1-2 of insight and truth. He’s been to Occupy Wall St., and has reported back with his findings. He follows closely to the news and, like myself, isn’t pleased with what he sees. Need to know about the world? Looking to deprogram someone who’s been brainwashed, possibly by our own media? Send em’ this way. Danny’s got you covered.

#7- Rayme @ A Clean Surface — Simple. Elegant. Organized. Sublime. This place is my Zen. Never a novel, like this place can be, but rather blissfully the opposite. “Less is more” would be a wonderful axiom to describe this place, but it’s a place beyond convention. It just is. And I like it that way.

Well, that about wraps this up doesn’t it? I like this idea. I like it a lot. Sure it’s a bit like a chain letter, and for those of you who don’t send it forward DON’T FORGET that Bill Gates will not be making a donation in your name — I’m just saying — but, anyway, it’s nice.

It gave me a chance to say thank you to you all for all the inspiration I’ve gotten.

So, as this is about as long-winded as I typically am, I guess I should wrap this up.